Share your tips for raising a kind child with the new Wonder film: chance to win £300 NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

The team behind the new Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay movie, Wonder, would love to hear your top tips for raising a kind child. The film really showcases how - as one MNer who has seen the film - says “a little bit more kindness in the world would be no bad thing”. Another Mumsnetter who saw a preview screening said “the issues raised are really important for all of us to [be] reminded of. Standing up to things that are wrong (even when it makes us unpopular), and always being kind - how many of us always live up to that?” here

Here's the synopsis: “starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay and based on the New York Times bestseller, WONDER tells the story of August Pullman. Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. As his family, his new classmates, and the larger community all struggle to find their compassion and acceptance, Auggie's extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove you can't blend in when you were born to stand out.”

Wonder is rated PG & open NOW

Watch the trailer here:

So how do you encourage your child to be kind to others? Please share your top tips and experiences of kindness from your child...has your child received a reward for kindness, have they gone out of the their way to show kindness to other children or have they had a period of not being kind but have come through it and learnt how important kindness is.

Add your comment to this thread and you will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will get a £300 voucher for the store of choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Standard Insight T and Cs apply

WONDER stars ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER JULIA ROBERTS (Eat Pray Love), ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINEE OWEN WILSON (Midnight in Paris), JACOB TREMBLAY (Room), MANDY PATINKIN (‘Homeland’)and IZABELA VIDOVIC (Homefront). Directed by STEPHEN CHBOSKY (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) the screenplay is written by STEPHEN CHBOSKY (Beauty and the Beast) and STEVEN CONRAD (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty) and JACK THORNE (‘This is England ’90’) based on the New York Times bestseller WONDER by R.J PALACIO

I am always teaching my DDs that it's not what people are like on the outside, but the person they are on the inside. My DDs are both kind girls and I encourage them to do kind acts for other children in their classes, and we talk about how it makes us feel doing something kind for others (e.g. warm inside, happy etc)

Thankfully my daughter is always polite and helpful. Anytime there are new students in her school, she helps show them around and gets rewarded with a certificate

I encourage her with my actions. Children learn by example and I hope she grows to understand that her mummy's actions are the ones she should copy.

Always be kind to them. Modelling kind behaviour and praising it encourages it

I Always praise my children when it comes to being kind to others. They understand that others may struggle and they always include their peers in their friendship groups.

My 7 year old is extremely kind and thoughtful and always thinking of those less fortunate. From a young age I've always emphasised the importance of kindness and thankfully it's rubbed off. The other day the teachers asked if the children could have a super power then what would it be - my son piped up 'I'd like to be able to 'spawn' (too much MInecraft) houses so that no one would ever need to be homeless again', I was so proud.

One day I was waiting for the bus for university whilst he was at school. It was 20 minutes late and when it eventually turned up it simply drove straight past me, I was cold, wet, miserable and cross. I relayed this to my son when he asked how my day was - he looked a me puzzled, not understanding why I was so angry. He asked if I was late for University and I said I wasn't, he said 'well that's okay then, maybe it was the bus drivers first day and he didn't know to stop there, or maybe he didn't see you'. He's great at teaching me kindness and understanding too!

I think the best way to teach kids to be kind is to be a good role model I see kindness as one of my best qualities so I would never tolerate unkindness my nanny always said Always be the better person and this is something I teach my kids.

I've never had to tell my daughter to be kind, she's very aware of differences, but at the same time she can be quite blind to them. There is a little girl in school with autism and has a TA with her at all time. It wasn't until Christmas time that I even knew this girl was in my daughter's class as her mum sent a Christmas card to my daughter thanking her for being so kind and being a friend to the little girl with autism. I was so proud and when I mentioned it she just said "yeah she's nice". I hope she continues through life like this

lead by example. they sense your feelings and watch your actions. It shouldn't be something special , it shoud be just normal

Children are highly impressionable leading by example and rewarding kind deeds to reinforce that behavior are some of the steps im carrying out.

I try to encourage kindness by encouraging empathy. I ask my dcs to imagine what it must be like to be in that persons situation.
I also encourage my children to be charitable and think of others.

I have conversations about putting themselves in other peoples shoes and asking how it would feel. I practise being kind to others and demonstrate examples of what kindness means.

Friend's child gave up their favorite cuddly toy to their friend who has lost theirs and was very upset. Thought it was very sweet.

To try to be patient and encourage them always.

Allways lead by example.

Get them to join Brownies or Cub Scouts as kindness towards others is part of what they teach.

Always treat others the way you want to be treated yourself

I really try to teach my children about kindness as I really do think it is important. It seems to be working as they offer up their seat on the bus and train if it is busy and they see an older person standing and they have good manners. I am always praising them for it as I want to try and make sure that it is something that carries on even when they get older.

Lead by example.
Reward kind behaviour. & teach them to not judge on appearances. That everyone of us are different & it's those differences that make us special.

I always tell my kids to treat others the way they want to be treated...and always be kind and listen to others

I feel that helping children to know when and how to show kindness is important. Being kind to them and discussing ways to be kind at school. That way they will recognize what it is and why it is important. I always talk to my children about how to interact with others kindly. My little girl had a boy in her class who had special needs and others did not want to sit with him. I explained how lucky she was to have such a nice boy to sit with, and she was lucky he was interested to talk to her. It is only when you take time to listen and understand that you can then see how you can be kind and often you benefit yourself in the process- she made a new friend who was always pleased to see her!

My eldest DD used to always befriend anyone at school who was picked on or a loner and this has carried on now into her adulthood by going into caring for adults with disabilities, with my DS 1 & 2 I just always emphasize about how there behavior affects other people and how they would feel in given situations and thankfully they both have caring natures

We always encourage my daughter to say sorry and check if people are ok if they are sad.

Treat others how you want to be treated is what I say. Also I try and discuss how to actually be nice to people, what you can do to show you're kind and ask them about how they have shown they are being kind to people.

Just gentle remiders that other people matter and to think how they would feel in others shoes. I don’t ram any messages to them or preach. Just gentle nudges and recognition when they are thoughtful for others. As there own personalities and self identity emerge in the late teens, I hope they will have an understanding of empathy, sympathy, self worth and respect for others.